The state rights democrat. [volume] (Albany, Linn County, Oregon) 1865-1900, 1887-09-09
w Washington.
trrom our regular ss,rs ,pondsn..,
wAsinNoroN, d. C., Aug. aand. 1887.

WASHINGTON, ID. c., Aug. a9nd, 1857
| Civil Service Commissioner Edgerton'
reply to the structures Of Mr.. Geo. VIM
Curtis, on the civil service, that system {
all that the true friends of reform have
right to expect, showing, as Il does, tina
President Cleveland and the Democratic
party have redeemed their pledges 10 tlia
regard, at least TO the full letter OF the civ
u.serviee act. tits frankly admitted tha
more Democrats than Republicans are ap
pointed, because Republican politicians
have tostered the false idea that member
Of that party had no chance THUS deterrlns
many from attempting an examination
while. on the other hand, Democrats hat
nothing 10 discourage their aspirations
Mr. Edgerton asserts most positively thai
the political opinion Of the candidates foi
places are not known Ia any case, and thai
all the names OF those who pass an exam,
inatIon are rated IN The order Of meri. On
the llst OF eiigihles. The Democrats whc
have criticised The Administration for fail.
ing 10 "tnrn the rascals out" fast enough
should certainly find some comfort ii
studying the returns ci decapitations Al
made by the Post Office Department foi
the past three years, which, as Horace
Greeley would say, will be mighty inter.
esting reading" During the last fiscal
year sofs Offices were established dIscon.
tinued, $500 appointments on resigna.
tions aud commissions expired. $500 ap-
pointments on removals and suspensions,
s,sS4 appointments on change Of names
and alses, 4ss appointments ON deaths 81
postmastera, sso. totatnun,ber Of appoint.
menit Of postmassers Of all grades during
the year, i5o7o for The years 1855 and
1850. ss.747 and o,s47,respectIveiy making
total Of 46,575 for the three years Of Desn-
oeratie Administration, which think Il a
pretty fair showing from purely partisan
standpoint, your correspondent believes
that "the boys In the trenches should lill
the Offices.
The great and good work of reclaimlng
public lands from th- grasping and greedy
railroad corporations, who have forfeited
their chartered rig ghts. .sslli goes OF. keeping
step to the tnuslc Of reform and the rights
OF the people Tho most important decl.
sion Of this kind given in years was ren.
dered by the Secretary OF the Interior =
few days since, rsvoking the order Of hts
Republican predecessor, which withdrew
from settlement, under the Presumption
and Homestead laws. the lands condition
ally granted by Congress rs the Atlantic
and Pacific Railroad Company amount.
Ing 10 twenty-hve or thirty million acres
of land. in this case alone the order ap.
plies 70 several other railroads as well .snd
His i a present Impossible 10 name The vast
number Of acres added 70 the public do
main. Every honest Western settler viii
now be moved 10 tosk up bis hat aud hands
and enthusiastically "hooray" for Lamar,
who thus couFageously performs great
public duty that enshrines his name among
the gods OF their humble households.
The death of Professor Spencer f Baird,
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution,
and Commissioner Of Fish and Fisheries.
Is one OF the greatest caiamities that could
befal the world of science. lie devoted \
long and useful life TO scientific researches
and literary iabors. and his works on
Natural History and science entiile him 10
rank with Audubon and Agazsiz, with both
OF whom he has been associated In their
iavoriss fields OF endeavor. Pref. Baird
was truly a benefactor OF his race. for TO
him the people Of the United States are
chiefly indebted for the upbnildIng Of the
Fish Commission, the propagation OF iisa
in all their waters. and the consequent
cheapcning ofthat excellent article of food.
The people Of the District of Columbia
are still groaning under their k.srden Of
debt and protesting against their form OF
government--givent them By the Repnbli.
cans which Is taxation without representa-.
ton. They are carrying a debt Of more
than $7I.oooooo consuming million and
a quarter annually In interest and sinking
fund, and the District of Columbia would
have been bankrupt long since but for the
fact that the United States bears half the
expenses Of government. One public
meeting after another il being held,and II
agitation will accomplish anything relief
from existing evils may be had Of the nexl
Congress.
At last the first chapter in the case oi
naval surgeon Crawford has cnded,and he
stands convicted on two informations, o.
fornication with little Eva White, schoo
girl Of fourteen the sentence is a year IL
the District jaii,but the defendants undel
bond pending appeal. There Is now talk
OF court martial.